Highlights

• Changsha Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy won first and second prizes at China's 2025 Green Mine Science and Technology Awards for AI-driven mineral processing and tailings management innovations.
• The first-prize project integrates IoT, AI, and digital twin modeling to optimize non-coal beneficiation processes, deployed across 10+ enterprises including Fankou Lead-Zinc Mine.
• The second-prize tailings project at Benxi Steel's Waitoushan Iron Mine enables safe disposal of 5.05 million tons of iron tailings annually through high-concentration transport and dewatering systems.

Two scientific projects involving the Changsha Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (CIMR) (opens in a new tab) have received top recognition in China’s 2025 Green Mine Science and Technology Awards, according to an announcement from the Zhongguancun Green Mine Industry Alliance.

CIMR, a subsidiary of China Minmetals Corpoation, participated in the first-prize project titled “Key Technologies and Applications of Collaborative Intelligent Control of the Entire Process of Non-Coal Mine Beneficiation,” and independently led a second-prize project focused on “Integrated Technology for High-Concentration Conveying, Dewatering, and Reclamation of Ultra-Fine-Grained Tailings.”

The first-prize project centers on upgrading non-coal mineral processing operations through integrated use of Internet of Things (IoT) systems, artificial intelligence, and digital twin modeling. CIMR reports developing three core technologies: multimodal sensing, full-process dynamic optimization, and digital twin–based decision systems. According to the institute, these technologies address longstanding operational challenges such as fragmented production data, poor coordination across beneficiation stages, and limited real-time optimization capability. The system has reportedly been deployed in more than 10 enterprises, including Fankou Lead-Zinc Mine and mining operations in Guangxi.

The second-prize project focuses on tailings management. At Benxi Steel’s Waitoushan Iron Mine, CIMR implemented high-concentration tailings transport, dewatering, and reclamation systems as part of an EPC upgrade of the main tailings pipeline. The institute states the system enables the safe disposal and comprehensive utilization of approximately 5.05 million tons of iron tailings annually. The project targets two major operational constraints: ultra-fine tailings handling and the high energy consumption associated with low-concentration slurry transport.

The awards, established in 2015 with approval from China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, recognize contributions to green mining development and technological innovation.

No new mineral extraction breakthroughs or output increases were reported. However, the projects highlight China’s continued emphasis on intelligent beneficiation systems and lower-carbon mine operations—areas that influence long-term competitiveness in global mineral supply chains.

Disclaimer: This report is based on coverage distributed through China’s state-affiliated media and industry associations. The information reflects official statements and should be independently verified before being used for investment, policy, or commercial decisions.